3 Tips to Help Your Real Estate Agent Help You

If you’ve ever bought or sold a home you’re fully aware of how difficult the process can be. Between making sure the paperwork is correct, the home inspection goes well, the home is priced right for the neighborhood and many other things, there is so much room for error! This, of course, is why most people opt for the help of a trained real estate agent. Someone who has been through this process with many other homebuyers and sellers, and will be prepared should anything unexpected come up.

However, a real estate agent can only do so much. There is always a certain aspect of buying or selling your home that is entirely up to you, and if you find yourself stuck in a rut, it might be a good idea to evaluate how you and your agent are working together. Here are a few tips to make sure you are helping your agent get you the best results possible.

1.) Know what you want. Whether you are trying to sell your current home or attempting to purchase a new one, it’s important to know what you’re looking for. If you’re hoping to sell your home for a certain amount, tell your agent; they should be able to give you tips to get there. And when searching for a home, make sure your agent knows your full wish-list (school, neighborhood, price-range, house requirements, etc.) and “fixer-upper” capabilities. It’s their job to find you the perfect home, so give them all the tools they need and let them find it!

2.) Be honest and realistic about your financial situation. Your real estate agent is going to be your best source for advice relating to your home finances, but they won’t be able to give you a lot of quality advice if they aren’t clear on your present situation. Things like the loan amount you qualified for, how much you’ve saved for a down payment and what you’d like your monthly mortgage payment to be are all pieces of a puzzle  your agent is trying to put together.

3.) Do your part. If you’re selling your home, make sure your home looks in tip-top condition. Having a messy home when people come to your open house surely isn’t going to help you reach your goal. Conversely, if you’re buying a home make sure you show up on time to showings and appointments. If your agent only has the home for 30 minutes and you show up 10 minutes late you’re cutting yourself short on time you could be using to see your potential future home. In addition, it’s also smart to be pre-approved for a loan before you start the house-hunting process. This makes sure you aren’t looking at houses outside your price-range, which saves an immense amount of time and grief.

By doing these things, you’re going to make sure your real estate agent isn’t wasting their time on useless leads and pointless listings. You want to make sure they are using their time to focus on the most important thing: buying or selling your home.